Paternalistic Doctors

Paternalistic doctors drive me crazy! They make hard situations even harder. Today I'm speaking of my endocrinologist. Any of you out there who are also dealing with hypothyroidism will no doubt be able to relate to my frustration. I was having some pretty unmistakable symptoms like more frequently freezing hands and feet, more dry hair falling out more often, episodes of extreme cold and an inability to get warm while others in the same room are perfectly comfortable and feeling like I had a rock in my throat (right where my dysfunctional thyroid is located.) After not being able to get in with the doctor (over a month 'til her next available appt.) my husband succeeded in getting her to order blood work to check my levels. At my last appt. she told me that her goal was to keep my TSH at 1. So she calls today to tell me that my thyroid levels are "just perfect!" When I ask her what they are specifically she tells me my TSH was 2.5. WTH? So I say, "I suppose you don't believe that was the cause of my symptoms then." Of course she doesn't!! Then I tell her that I have an appt. for 2/26 and that I don't believe my level is good at all for ttc and want her to know that we're heading into our first IVF. So she says, "Well good. We'll talk about it then, and hey, maybe I'll even adjust your dose since you're doing IVF." Thanks for the favor, doc! I felt like I should be up on my hind legs begging with my tongue hanging out. Hey, she just dangled a bone in front of me right? Maybe she'll even adjust my dose. If you actually remembered a damn thing about me and my case you should be upping my dose since my levels are 150% higher than your stated goal for me!

You know, when I'm fighting IF, depression, hypothyroidism, blood clotting disorders, and the obesity that comes along with some of the aforementioned conditions the last thing I need is to have to fight the doctors I've hired to help me. When will more physicians learn that many of their patients actually know their own bodies and are a valuable partner in determining their own best treatment? Needless to say, it's time to find another endocrinologist.

"We will file with your insurance company."

Were sweeter words ever heard by an infertile? I couldn't believe it today when I called the office of the Reproductive Immunologist I want to see. The woman in the billing office said, "Yes, we do participate with your insurance. I'll file it for you and fight with them if they don't want to pay for a certain test or service." **Jaw drops and eyes open a little wider as I try to figure out if my hearing is okay.** Then I hear myself saying at an embarrassingly high pitch, "REALLY?"

I can't remember ever feeling this happy while talking to a person in the billing office on this long and expensive IF journey. At least for today, for this moment I feel like the universe is smiling on me, and I can relax just a little and believe everything may work out. If I can get my records copied and the new patient info. out to the clinic quickly, DH and I may even be able to make a little Valentine's Day getaway out of our trip to Chicago to see this doctor. Aaah. I'm not even going to imagine anything that can go wrong right now. Something went very right today, and I'm going to enjoy it. I hope each of you has something go right soon so you can relax and enjoy life just a little too!